Templates

[nielsnorby]

When entering a product into your database, have the ability to tie a template to the product, then when you add an order line item to an order with that product., it will automatically add a template in the external files section.

[M. David Matney]

When entering a product into your database, have the ability to tie a template to the product, then when you add an order line item to an order with that product., it will automatically add a template in the external files section.

The idea of having the templates attached to the product is a good one, however having it automatically add to the external files may not be. When you duplicate an order, the external files are also duplicated, in which case adding templates would just muddy up the files in the external files list and you would have to delete them out.

Any discussion on this, feel free, but I think a better approach is to allow the templates to be added to a product, and then you can add a new external document using one of the templates. Based upon what products are added as order line items, BizWizard would present you a list of templates to choose from. So if product ABC and XYZ are added as order lines, and you wish to create a new document from a template, then you would be presented with the template for ABC and XYZ. Then you can create a new document but only when needed vs. automatically.

[nielsnorby]

That sounds fine to me. It would just be nice to have it available to choose instead of having to search for the file an import it manually.

[M. David Matney]

That sounds fine to me. It would just be nice to have it available to choose instead of having to search for the file an import it manually.

Did you know that there are supplier templates already today? Vendor Templates allows you to create templates of products and attach them to the supplier. Then when you go to create a new external file, you can create a new file using supplier template. Thus you do not have to import it. This is exactly the same feature you are talking about wanting, the only difference is, currently its attached to a supplier, not a product.

[awardsguy]

Is there any progess on this idea (attaching a template to an item)?

[M. David Matney]

Is there any progess on this idea (attaching a template to an item)?

Templates can be tied to the vendor. This is a more logical place since some vendors provide a single template the is for 2, 3, 4, 5, etc of their products. If it was tied to the product then there would be duplication of templates.

The problem with duplication of any data, including templates is if there is an update to a template, you have to ensure to update all versions of it.

By linking the template to the vendor or the customer, then duplication of templates doesn't exist.

Niels will be doing a demonstration in Las Vegas ARA 2010 on Templates. I know you will be there, so this will be good for you to see how this works.